Ball bag suggestions..

[stl_ump]

Mine are worn out and faded and they came from +POS.

Time for new ones. Suggestions on what and where to get them?

I'm also probably going to get a couple of Richardson 543 Flex Fit hats so it would be good if your suggested WEB site had both items.

Thanks!

[Astrosdawg07]

Dry-Lo's!

[johnnyg08]

I would avoid the flex fit if you plan to wear that with your mask. Flex fit, while they're not for me, guys that wear them say that they like them on the bases.

[UmpJM]

stl_ump,

I've been using the Dri-Lo bags the last couple of years and am quite satisfied with them.

I would encourage you NOT to get any kind of "Flex-Fit" hat because:

1. They don't support your mask properly.
2. They are more likely to come off when you remove your mask.

Personally, I find them uncomfortable as well.

As in all things, do as you think best.

JM

[stl_ump]

stl_ump,

I've been using the Dri-Lo bags the last couple of years and am quite satisfied with them.

I would encourage you NOT to get any kind of "Flex-Fit" hat because:

1. They don't support your mask properly.
2. They are more likely to come off when you remove your mask.

Personally, I find them uncomfortable as well.

As in all things, do as you think best.

JM

To this point I have been using the Flex Fit with my mask and no complaints but if there is something out there that might be better I'm all ears. And the Dri-Lo bags. Do they come in different sizes or just one.

Suggestions on where to purchase?

Thanks!

[UmpJM]

stl_ump,

I believe they only come in one size (which I think of as "large"). You can find them here: http://www.umpire.org/store/product_info.php?products_id=100

If you haven't had any issues with the flex-fit cap, you are likey wearing your mask straps too tight - which is something you really don't want to do.

Get yourself a proper, fitted umpire cap. All the major umpire suppliers carry them.

JM

[JaxRolo]

I have the dry-lo bags and love them.

I also wear the flex fit hats with no problems whatsoever. My straps are not too tight.

[Chris Hickman]

The maker of the Officials Locker Room is designing a new ball bag for 2012. It should be a great seller.

[yawetag]

If you're with the same association as I am, there's a member whose wife makes ball bags. I haven't had a chance to personally own them, but I've heard good things about them. Plus, $20 for two is a good deal.

For details, PM me or check out the association's website (click on Equipment).

[NWA_UMP]

Dry-lo's...I have used them all season, love them. BTW, I don't use flexfit for any hat I wear on the diamond.

[stl_ump]

Seems like some of you don't like Flex fit. Suggestions on alternatives?

Thanks

[UmpJM]

Stl_ump,

http://www.honigs.com/sub/37/K02S

or

http://www.gerrydavis.com/mm5/category/Umpire_Hats/product/B14HT6852

or

http://www.gerrydavis.com/mm5/category/Umpire_Hats/product/B14HT6952

or

http://www.ump-attire.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=540&Category_Code=UMPIRE-BASE-CAPS&Product_Count=1

or

=2785"]http://www.uesports.com/baseball-caps-detail.php?pdid=1721&pdtype=1&parnode=2785&relNode[0]=2785

or any other fitted umpire cap.

JM

[Thunderheads]

I have Honig's bags and the Ultimate bag from Ump-Attire, ...very very nice!

I have used the wool-like flex fit mostly on the bases. You can NOT tell these are flex fit caps. In a pinch, ...if you wear your mask properly, and your mask is lightweight, .... you'll have no problems with the flexfit.

That said, ...I PREFER the fitted .....and, ...get the 6 stitch for the plate....you should have NO problems with your mask and a flex fit :GL:

[Kevin Finnerty]

stl_ump,

... I would encourage you NOT to get any kind of "Flex-Fit" hat because:

1. They don't support your mask properly.
2. They are more likely to come off when you remove your mask.

Personally, I find them uncomfortable as well.

As in all things, do as you think best.

JM

This is excellent advice. Just make damned sure that you think that a flex-fit is not the best way to go.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Rolo,

Then you must be one of those guys with a head of hair. Stop bragging.

I guess I go full bore on the cap subject. I buy them a dozen at a time: eight six-stitch and four eight-stitch. I bought the last dozen New Eras from Lester's before they disappeared. My next dozen will need to be Richardson. Right now, I have five sixes and two eights new in the cap box, so that means I broke out and rotated in three new sixes and two new eights since summer of 2010.

When I bought that last dozen New Eras, they cost me $84. And I will have a new looking cap for every game for at least another year, probably two.

I had a recent partner show up to do the bases at a JUCO game with a greasy, shiny old four-stitch combo cap (uncreased, of course). That screams "I'm cheap" two different ways: I'm too cheap to buy a new cap at least once every six or eight years, and when I do cut loose with the eight or ten bones, I'm too cheap to buy a different cap for the bases. That one game paid over $100--well over $100 with the gas money--and he can't cut loose enough to look decent when he walks onto a field. And he's a college umpire.

The cap is the least expensive item we will ever wear. It's even less expensive than a good pair of socks. Walking onto a field with a greasy, shiny, gunky cap is inexcusable.

[BigUmp56]

.

The cap is the least expensive item we will ever wear. It's even less expensive than a good pair of socks. Walking onto a field with a greasy, shiny, gunky cap is inexcusable.

Agreed. And a small bottle of Woolite goes a long way in keeping a wool fitted cap looking sharp. I know this sounds wierd, but I found a small basketball that my boys had, and discovered I could place my fitted cap snugly over it. I put the cap over the ball, and use Woolite with a gentle brush in the kitchen sink to wash it, and then leave it on the ball to dry. The hat dries nicely with no wrinkles, and it's easily creased again when it's ready.

Tim.

[Thunderheads]

I have the dry-lo bags and love them.

I also wear the flex fit hats with no problems whatsoever. My straps are not too tight.

Then you must be one of those guys with a head of hair. Stop bragging.

I guess I go full bore on the cap subject. I buy them a dozen at a time: eight six-stitch and four eight-stitch. I bought the last dozen New Eras from Lester's before they disappeared. My next dozen will need to be Richardson. Right now, I have five sixes and two eights new in the cap box, so that means I broke out and rotated in three new sixes and two new eights since summer of 2010.

When I bought that last dozen New Eras, they cost me $84. And I will have a new looking cap for every game for at least another year, probably two.

I had a recent partner show up to do the bases at a JUCO game with a greasy, shiny old four-stitch combo cap (uncreased, of course). That screams "I'm cheap" two different ways: I'm too cheap to buy a new cap at least once every six or eight years, and when I do cut loose with the eight or ten bones, I'm too cheap to buy a different cap for the bases. That one game paid over $100--well over $100 with the gas money--and he can't cut loose enough to look decent when he walks onto a field. And he's a college umpire.

The cap is the least expensive item we will ever wear. It's even less expensive than a good pair of socks. Walking onto a field with a greasy, shiny, gunky cap is inexcusable.

Finn, my man, ...(and everyone else) just so you know ......in case you don't know...

Regarding Richardson caps .....you may want to 'test drive' one before ordering them by the case. They tend to run a little 'big' for me in the fitted area. Meaning ......All my fitted caps (baseball) are 7 3/8 ...but the Richardson fitted 7 3/8 is too big to wear w/ a mask, so my plate hat is a 7 1/4 ........just an fyi :meditation:

[Kevin Finnerty]

Somethings haywire in my post once I edited it.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I fixed it ... whew!

Thunder,

I am in on the Richardson. I had several of those as my original caps. Some New Eras are a little larger than they're supposed to be. I shrink them if they're too big for the plate (shortens the cap's life a little ... oh well). When they're too small, like Tim's perfect basketball, I have a spaghetti pot whose colander insert is precisely my cap size. I swirl the cap around in a mild solution like Tim also described, and then I stretch it over the bottom of the colander and blast water through it to rinse it out. When it dries, I iron it and fold it and put in back in my New Era Cap Carry Case.

And by the way, theDri-Los are the best! The UA Ultimates are also great in their own right, now that they are wider than before. They're both very durable and accommodating. I have two sets of Dri-Los and one set of the narrower 2009 model UA Ultimates (they only held two baseballs comfortably). I retired my Honig's navy bags.

I always find myself telling newer umpires something like, "It's hard to believe that it even matters, but a good set of ball bags really does make a difference."

Did I say that I prefer the Dri-Lo?

[BigUmp56]

I've used only Honigs for years. What is the primary difference between them and the Dri-Low? I'm always looking for something better.

Tim.

[Kevin Finnerty]

I've used only Honigs for years. What is the primary difference between them and the Dri-Low? I'm always looking for something better.

Tim.

The Dri-Los are sturdier in their construction, and the inside pockets are more accommodating. But what makes them unique is this waterproof backing on the side that rests against you. So, in extreme conditions, the contents (baseballs, line-up cards, indicator, stopwatch, pencil, in my case) don't get wet from perspiration seeping through from your polywools.

They also have a very cool home plate-shaped space between the tunnel loops.

[stl_ump]

OK... a couple of people have mentioned cap and support.

I'm assuming you mean the cap is supposed to hold your mask up? (makes sense but I was unaware that this was the physics of the situation) And that you don't get this from the Flex Fit?

I don't seem to notice any support problems with my Flex Fit but maybe I'll try a fitted cap and see if I notice any difference comfort wire.

[ukce1861]

OK... a couple of people have mentioned cap and support.

I'm assuming you mean the cap is supposed to hold your mask up? (makes sense but I was unaware that this was the physics of the situation) And that you don't get this from the Flex Fit?

I don't seem to notice any support problems with my Flex Fit but maybe I'll try a fitted cap and see if I notice any difference comfort wire.

How tight is your mask? Most people will tell you that your mask should be loose enough that it's basically sitting on the bill of your cap; your harness shouldn't be holding it to your head. If that's the case, a FlexFit hat is going to droop down when it's supporting your mask (for most people). My theory is that, since Flex Fit is really just a range of sizes, for people that are closer to the top of that range, the FlexFit functions more like a fitted hat, so it's tight enough as is.

My biggest beef with a FlexFit is that the elastic band leaves a stupid looking red mark all across my forehead, which doesn't happen with my fitted hats.

I guess my real question is, why order a FlexFit when it's just as easy to order a fitted one? The only FlexFit I've ever gotten was from my LL District, which makes sense since they're ordering a large quantity for a number of people so it's a lot easier than trying to get everybody's hat size.

[stl_ump]

My mask is "loose" like it's supposed to be. I'll have to get a fitted hat and do a comparison.

Thanks for the advice.

[Kevin Finnerty]

... My theory is that, since Flex Fit is really just a range of sizes, for people that are closer to the top of that range, the FlexFit functions more like a fitted hat, so it's tight enough as is.

My biggest beef with a FlexFit is that the elastic band leaves a stupid looking red mark all across my forehead, which doesn't happen with my fitted hats.

I guess my real question is, why order a FlexFit when it's just as easy to order a fitted one? The only FlexFit I've ever gotten was from my LL District, which makes sense since they're ordering a large quantity for a number of people so it's a lot easier than trying to get everybody's hat size.

For most guys it is merely the inconsistent sizing of fitted caps that spurs them to buy a flex-fit.

I buy a lot of 7 1/2s in several brands, but mainly New Era. I have bought several pro caps in recent years and over a hundred throughout the years, and I have never bought five in a row that were actually 7 1/2. In the Internet age, we can no longer try caps on. I used to buy according to its original fit and allow for a modicum of shrinkage. Now I take what I get from the UPS guy and work with it. If it's too small, I stretch it; if it's too large, I soak it in very hot water and dry it in the oven to shrink it to size. If I get a good deal on a 7 5/8 something, I shrink it. Many times in close-outs, the larger sizes are available.

In umpire caps, I buy mostly six-stitch, and some eight-stitch. I have bought 7 1/2 and 7 5/8 that are the same size. It's really a crap shoot, but 7 1/2 is my starting point. Most 7 1/2s are a little tight or a little loose. I wear the tight ones first, and shrink the loose ones. So you either work with it or buy a flex-fit.